Sandra‘s Closet

In general, we are more confronted in life with things that appear real, but most of the time are usually fake. In terms of fashion this season, we are confronted with «fake» T-shirts that are actually true designer pieces, but are looking like counterfeit products.

Appliquéd distressed printed cotton-jersey T-shirt by Gucci

From Alessandro Michele‘s brilliant idea to create a plain white tee printed with the house’s GG with its signature green and red stripe that looked like a bootleg copy to Dolce & Gabbana‘s logo play.

Shopper «GG Ghost Real» by Gucci

Both tapped into the same ideas as Gucci‘s collaboration with graffiti artist Trouble Andrew, aka GucciGhost, for F/W 2016, when he sprayed bags with the word «Real» above the house’s name, that flew off the shelves and will come back this season.

T-shirts in the collage from left to right: T-shirt «Drunk and Gorgeous» and T-shirt «Daiquiri & Ginfiz», both by Dolce & Gabbana, appliquéd distressed printed cotton-jersey T-shirt and distressed and floral embroidered logo T-shirt, both by Gucci.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Gucci and Dolce & Gabbana

The fashion world is moving fast and sometimes labels that have been around for many years become all of a sudden absolutely trendy. It takes the right designer to lead the brand to new heights just like Alessandro Michele did with Gucci. Now, there is another fashion house that you should include in your wish list: LOEWE. Founded in 1846, Loewe started life as a cooperative of leather artisans in Madrid, before German entrepreneur Enrique Loewe Roessberg took over the workshop and consolidated it under his name in 1872. The Spanish label introduced its first ready-to-wear collection in 1965, bringing fashion to the centre of the brand.

In 2013 Jonathan Anderson took over the helm at Loewe and transformed the Spanish house slowly but constantly into one of the most talked-about labels this season.

Raquel Zimmermann starred in Loewe’s S/S 2016 ad campaign.

Under Anderson’s creative direction, the label has had its logo and emblem rebranded by Parisian art duo M/M (Paris), Steven Meisel-lensed ad campaigns have been rolled out and the clothes and bags are quickly garnering must-have status among the style set. When it comes to taking a label steeped in heritage and making it relevant today, Anderson has the Midas touch.

A statement bag that you should get: Loewe‘s Joyce embellished leather shoulder bag.

A modern legacy: LOEWE Boutique Bilbao designed by architect Javier Carvajal, 1960.

An authority in leather goods for over 160 years, Loewe, under the creative vision of Anderson, continues to design classic handbags using cutting-edge techniques. With a keen interest in interiors and architecture, Javier Carvajal (the architect responsible for the modernist Loewe stores in the 1950s and 1960s) is another key inspiration.

The new must-have bag for the S/S 2017 season? Loewe‘s Puzzle leather shoulder bag.
For Anderson’s first bag style, the Puzzle, more than 40 fragments of super-soft leather have been sliced and repositioned.

«I set out to find a new way of building a bag, fundamentally questioning its structure. It was about deconstructing a conventional bag to create a flat object with a tri-dimensional function» – Jonathan Anderson.

I love it! It is definitely on my shopping list…

You can shop a great selection of LOEWE at NET-A-PORTER, LUISAVIAROMA, MATCHESFASHION and MYTHERESA.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Loewe

In 2012, my relationship as MONTBLANC ambassador started with the launch of my very own ink Sandra Berry, a fuchsia hue, that was limited to 100 pieces.

My beautiful limited edition Sandra Berry ink by Montblanc.

Now, in 2016, I was honored to be part of their new social media campaign that focuses on the Urban Spirit collection, a brand new leather line defined by its innovative functionality – the ultimate companion for the independent traveller’s daily needs.

Being featured on Montblanc’s Facebook page along with brand ambassador Hugh Jackman, how cool is this?!

For the campaign I had to answer some questions about myself and the city of Zurich:

Favorite place in your city and why ?
I love the area around the Stadthausquai and the Münsterbrücke as it makes me feel like being in Paris. It shows the beauty of Zurich in perfection.

What does Urban Spirit in your city inspires you?
The urban spirit of Zurich is very cosmopolitan, combining Swiss traditions with cultural influences from all over the world. It is a melting pot that inspires me every day just by hearing different languages. Zurich is a metropole and a small little village at the same time, a place where you can do business and feel like being on holidays with its beautiful mountains and stunning lake.

And here are the social media campaign photos shot by lovely Andrea Monica Hug:

Stay tuned for all the details of the look coming up soon!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Montblanc

7 years –  as crazy as it sounds but I have been blogging now for 84 months, which is around 2555 days, and this is my 3098th posts which means I wrote more than one per day. I am thankful, Sandra’s Closet has taken me on the craziest, busiest but most amazing ride in my life.

Blogging is what I love to do most. I am independent, I can write whatever or wherever I am. It gives me so much freedom and joy. I love to do my collages and it has never ever been something I had to force myself to do.

To honour the occasion, I gifted myself with this new Chanel 2.55 bag from the «Front Row Only» collection. I think the attached hanger and the built-in hidden mirror on the back is too cute and it couldn’t be a better match to celebrate my closet.

As everything wouldn’t be possible without you, my dear readers, who have supported me over the last years, I have a gift for you, too. Please enjoy this special early access code BFLSU30 with 30% off on full priced orders over £300/€300 at LUISAVIAROMA.

Thank you from all my heart for your comments, your mails. With some of you I have even developed a relationship over the past years. I will continue to entertain you with your daily dose of fashion, beauty and lifestyle.

Recently, I have been thinking about doing a relaunch of my blog, a new layout for example but on the other side, I am loving my design, it looks different from others and I find it easy to navigate. Please shoot me an e-mail what you would change or if you prefer it the way it is to .

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

If you are asking yourself what is the furse? It is this season’s fashion curse!

A marriage of fur and a purse. First furry shoes stormed the runways, now it is time for the bags to get in action. These must-haves will vamp up even the most modest of your looks. And moreover they feel like a cuddly toy in your hands.

1 Box fur-embellished leather cross body bag by Christopher Kane
2 Fur shopper by Marni
3 Love Power shearling and textured-leather shoulder bag by Diane von Fuerstenberg
4 Fur bag by Alexander Wang

I love fur bags especially in colourful shades. I think that they look the most fun:

Lockett Envelope Mini fur shoulder bag by Jimmy Choo

Lock Mini mink fur and leather shoulder bag by Valentino

Badia fur and leather cross body bag by Salvatore Ferragamo

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of the Brands

Today is Halloween. Have you ever asked yourself why  people are wearing costumes that day? The reason is that celts dressed up in white with blackened faces during the festival of Samhain to trick the evil spirits that they believed would be roaming the earth before All Saints’ Day on November 1st.

I like the idea of tricking the evil spirits, probably this Peekaboo medium crocodile-trimmed leather and python tote by Fendi would help! I am totally in love, so please don’t make me get my wand, this fashion must-have is all I need.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Fendi

Finally – here is the bouquet you really wanted from your boyfriend. Dear gentlemen, who hopefully are reading this post, surprise your loved one with one of those floral must-haves and you will make her heart leap with joy. Shop the brand new Karlie embroidered suede pumps by Aquazzura or the stunning floral embellished appliquéd canvas and satin clutch by Alexander McQueen now!

Below you can find some more pieces to choose from – to a blossoming love!

LoL, Sandra

Sicily medium floral-print textured-leather tote by Dolce & Gabbana

Petra floral-print leather pumps by Tabitha Simmons

Leather-trimmed painted wood clutch by Dolce & Gabbana

Embellished printed leather Mary Jane pumps by Dolce & Gabbana

New Ace floral-print canvas sneakers by Gucci

Photos: Courtesy of the Brands

Clutches are small, fine and compliment every feminine outfit just perfectly. This season, a statement bag gets a whole new meaning and can be taken literally. Only your personal taste and your style decide, which one will be your favourite. With these quotes, the stage is all yours and you set a point right from the start.

LoL, Sandra

Dolce embellished printed leather shoulder bag by Dolce & Gabbana (my favorite)

Speech Bubble embroidered leather clutch by Sophia Webster

Iconic Print leather clutch by Givenchy

Love Pill confetti Perspex clutch by Sarah’s Bag

Superstar Vanity croc-effect leather clutch by Charlotte Olympia

Flavia Gangster glittered acrylic box clutch by Edie Parker

Leather and fabric embellished pouch by Gucci

Wifey For Lifey beaded cotton clutch by Sophia Webster

Candy printed acrylic clutch by Jimmy Choo

Everything I Do Makes Me book clutch by Olympia Le-Tan

Photos: Courtesy of the Brands

Absolutely trending this F/W 2016 season is wrapping a silk scarf around the handle as seen on the Louis Vuitton runway or to tie a ribbon around it as Alessandro Michele did at Gucci.

I decorated my So Black Kelly bag recently with a 90 x 90cm silk scarf by Hermès. Stay tuned, the complete look will be coming up tomorrow.

Before starting to wrap it around the handle, it is important to fold the base very precisely:

The easier way is to use a Twilly, another a silk design by Hermès that is specifically used for that purpose (although it’s also used for other things like your wrist). It is thin and an easy way to customize your bag.

The ribbon effect: Sylvie mini buckle leather shoulder bag by Gucci.

Have fun decorating your bag!

LoL, Sandra

Louis Vuitton F/W 2017

Courtesy of the Brands, via Luxury 24/7 and © Sandra Bauknecht

Love it or leave it: Balenciaga’s first new bag, the Bazar Shopper, from designer Demna Gvasalia, who is also one of the co-founders of upcoming cult fashion brand Vetements. When he was appointed to the French brand months ago, fashionista were looking forward to seeing what his first bag would look like and it was quite a surprise.

His ‘Bazar’ collection is inspired by sampeng bags – striped shoppers traditionally used in the markets of Thailand.

Bazar striped textured-leather tote by Balenciaga

Bazar medium grained-leather tote by Balenciaga

But Balenciaga is not the first one to come up with a plastic shopping bag being transformed into something high end in leather. Do you remember the Louis Vuitton S/S 2007 collection?

I leave it to you if you like it or not… I got the Vuitton one nine years ago as a piece for my little “museum“…. and now I am thinking about the Bazar shopper. I like it!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of © Balenciaga, © Louis Vuitton and © Instagram/Icerati